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The province is keeping the details of the tentative agreement under wraps at the request of Tsuu T’ina Nation.

Ric McIver, the province’s transportation minister, says the agreement now being taken to the Tsuu T’ina for a yes or no by them on Oct. 24 is “similar but it’s different.”

“It’s not the same but it’s similar,” says McIver, remaining tight-lipped and refusing to go any further.

“We’re trying to respect the process,” he says.

And, in the sound of that silence, the unofficial word making the rounds is individual members of Tsuu T’ina could be in line for cheques in the ballpark of $70,000 if the ring road deal is inked.

For a family of five that’s around $350,000. Big dollars indeed.

The cash would come out of funds to go from the province to the feds to the Tsuu T’ina Nation who have the authority to distribute the money if the agreement is approved.

Still, no one speaks of details.

The last deal, rejected by the Tsuu T’ina in 2009, had $275 million going to Tsuu T’ina Nation along with up to 4,858 acres of Crown land to be added to the reserve in exchange for the transfer of 988 acres of Tsuu T’ina land to the province for the southwest ring road and utility corridors.

A sticking point in the previous No vote was the province promising to make “best efforts” to secure all the land.

McIver says the two sides “really worked hard to get the wording right,” calling the 2009 “best efforts” statement “unfortunate.”

“There was a guarantee on one side and best efforts on the other side. The agreement wasn’t written in a way responsible people could accept.”

The province is also expected to pay for the moving of any infrastructure to accommodate the ring road.

The total cost is higher than in 2009 since there is inflation but it is also said to be higher in real dollars.

On Thursday, Premier Redford is “very pleased” and “very optimistic.”

“I’m very pleased with where we are right now but we’re not done yet,” she says.

“Everyone is very pleased with what the terms are right now. I’m glad there is such confidence with respect to everyone who has been involved in these discussions.”

Wildrose leader Danielle Smith, not believed to be on the premier’s Christmas card list, says Albertans should know what the tentative deal looks like.

“I’m disappointed we don’t know now,” says Smith, whose party says the southwest ring road is a top priority.

“I’m a little bit worried about what the actual dollars look like because when you look at the last deal it was a pretty generous arrangement.

“If they’ve had to go even more generous on this I think taxpayers are going to ask: Is this the best we can do? They should be releasing the details.”

Until Smith sees the paperwork she says she will “reserve judgment” though she also asks whether the province has exhausted all other options besides going through Tsuu T’ina land.

As for the argument people knowing the ins and outs of the tentative deal and weighing in on the issues could help scuttle the agreement, Smith says “if there’s going to be controversy it’s going to happen. You may as well get it on the table now.

“It has to be reasonable to all parties.”

McIver shoots back.

The province’s roads boss may not give us details but he is breathing fire. He says Smith is “drooling over a potential political donnybrook.”

“This government has made the best deal we could and we will be fully transparent at the end of the day and be judged by the public,” says McIver.

“In due course, the opposition and all Albertans can have at us. But to have somebody with no responsibility quashing the deal for short-term political gain is reckless, short-sighted and irresponsible.

“The leader of the opposition should take a breath and think about the people she purports to represent.”

So that’s where we are and after many decades and false starts the question remains.

How much do Calgarians and others want a southwest ring road?

The province is banking on you wanting it a whole hell of a lot.

On these occasions, McIver uncorks his well-worn quotation.

“Until the ring road is complete what we’ve got is a horseshoe,” he says.

“While I love our western heritage I prefer a ring road.”

Poll

With a deal to be voted on by the Tsuu T'ina, do you think the southwest ring road will go ahead?

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